The Kaluga Regional Court has reportedly detained a Russian national for two months on suspicion of terrorism. The individual is suspected of being a member of the “Freedom of Russia” Legion, a paramilitary group made up of former Russian soldiers fighting on behalf of Ukraine, RIA reported Friday.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrested the unnamed individual believing they were planning terrorist attacks in Bryansk, Russia, particularly timed to the presidential elections. President Vladimir Putin is predicted to secure a fifth term despite the controversies circling around the disqualification of opposition candidates like Boris Nadezhdin and the passing of democracy activist Alexei Navalny.
The FSB alleges they discovered several caches of explosives near the entrances to energy companies and government buildings, reportedly placed by the individual. Furthermore, it is claimed that the individual confessed to operating drones on behalf of Ukraine.
The Kaluga District Court initiated criminal charges under Part 1 of Article 30 (“Preparations for a Crime”), Part 1 of Article 205 (“Acts of Terrorism”) and Part 1 of Article 222.1 (“Illegal Acquisition, Transfer, Sale, Storage, Transportation, or Bearing of Firearms, Its Basic Parts, Ammunition, Explosives, and Explosive Devices”) of the Russian Criminal Code. If convicted for these crimes, the individual could face up to 20 years in prison.
This arrest is one in a series of crackdowns against the anti-war movement in Russia. Last month, Russian law enforcement detained at least two dozen people at a protest in Moscow, mainly journalists and human rights activists rather than protesters, who were advocating for the return of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, according to Jurist.